The 2008 Jester Azores Challenge was one of the most successful so far with 42 entrants and 29 finishers. To celebrate this success and renew old friendships an evening dinner and re-union is being organised on Saturday 23rd February, 2019 at the Royal Harwich Yacht Club in Ipswich, Suffolk. Whilst priority for dinner places will … Continue reading ‘2008’ Jester Azores Reunion→

Welcome to the Jester Baltimore Challenge 2019 and the Jester ‘family’. The list of those interested in the Jester Baltimore Challenge 2019 (JBC 2019) is growing. Please be aware that this list is in the public domain, so please do not forward any contact details you wish to withhold. The start date for the JBC … Continue reading Jester Baltimore Challenge 2019→

Originally published in PBO magazine by Ben Meakins, Feb 2015 Two-time solo Atlantic racer Basil Panakis shows PBO’s Ben Meakins how he prepared his 25ft yacht to face the Jester Challenge He that would go to sea for pleasure would go to hell for pastime,’ runs the old saying. But where does that leave the … Continue reading Jester Challenge: Preparing for a solo adventure→

Tim and Medusa, First finishers Jester 2018. Transatlantic Summary (non technical): The stressful bit was getting Medusa to Plymouth a couple of weeks before the start. Then, with 72 hours to go, discovering that the replaced battery monitoring system had failed again and needed replacing during a Bank Holiday. Crossing the start line on 7th … Continue reading Medusa’s challenge – Tim Luke→

Jester's Ultimate Storm by Mike Richey In Heavy Weather Sailing, Adlard Coles defines a survival storm, as distinct from a full gale, as those conditions in which, the wind at Force 10 or above and perhaps gusting at hurricane strength, wind and sea become the masters; there is little the unfortunate mariner can do. It is impossible … Continue reading Jester’s Ultimate Storm→

Just a short reminder. The Jester Challenge 2018 will start at 12 noon on Monday 7th May 2018 (One hour and seven minutes after HW Devonport) off the western end of the Plymouth Breakwater. Evening barbecue at the Tamar River Sailing Club on Friday 4th May 2018 Skippers’ briefing (plus guests) in the Tamar River … Continue reading Counting Down to 7th May 2018→

The Jester Challenge is a curious phenomenon. Although notionally a transatlantic 'race' based on Blondie Hasler's outline for a Transatlantic Single-handed race Series Two, it is at the same time a lot less than that, and a lot more. It is a lot less in the sense that it is not really a race in … Continue reading The Jester Challenge – A Personal View→

Ewen Southby-Tailyour once descibed it as 'a modern experiment in old-fashioned self-reliance, self-sufficiency and personal responsibility' whereby single-handed sailors pit them selves against the worst the Atlantic can throw at them to reach The Azores or North America. Every two years a group of hardy sailors head for Plymouth to sail the Atlantic. The Challenge in … Continue reading What is The Jester Challenge?→

Terms for The Jester Challenge 2018 The Tamar River Sailing Club is proud to welcome Jester Skippers and to host their event for another year. This year’s event will take place over the Early May Bank Holiday. TRSC will expect competitors between Friday 4th May and 7th May 2018 and competitors arriving between these dates can … Continue reading Jester Challenge to Rhode Island 2018→